Transparency and Accountability Act of 2024

Liberty
1

Legislative Proposal: Transparency and Accountability Act of 2024

Title: An Act to Prohibit Secret Votes by Members of Congress and Ensure Full Transparency of Congressional Voting Records.

Section 1: Short Title
This Act may be cited as the “Transparency and Accountability Act.”

Section 2: Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to increase transparency in the legislative process, ensure accountability of elected officials, and provide the public with full access to voting records of Members of Congress on all matters of public policy, including committee and subcommittee votes.

Section 3: Prohibition of Secret Votes

  1. Requirement for Recorded Votes:
    a. All votes cast by Members of Congress in both the House of Representatives and the Senate must be recorded and made publicly accessible, regardless of the vote’s subject matter.
    b. This requirement applies to all floor votes, committee votes, and subcommittee votes.

  2. Immediate Public Disclosure:
    a. Recorded votes shall be made available to the public within 24 hours of the vote’s conclusion through official online government platforms.
    b. A summary of each vote, including the matter at hand, the Members present, and each Member’s vote, shall be clearly displayed and archived.

  3. Exceptions to the Rule:
    a. In rare and exceptional cases where national security is directly implicated, a temporary delay of up to seven days may be permitted for public disclosure, contingent upon a two-thirds majority vote by both chambers of Congress.
    b. The rationale for any delay must be clearly documented, with an unclassified summary made available to the public alongside the eventual release of the vote record.

  4. Prohibition of Anonymous Voting:
    a. Members of Congress shall not be permitted to cast votes anonymously.
    b. Each Member’s name, party affiliation, and state must be associated with their respective vote for all recorded actions.

Section 4: Enforcement and Compliance

  1. Penalties for Non-Compliance:
    a. Any Member of Congress who knowingly violates the provisions of this Act shall be subject to censure by their respective chamber.
    b. Repeated violations may result in additional penalties, including but not limited to temporary suspension of certain privileges within the chamber.

  2. Oversight Committee Creation:
    a. An independent committee shall be established to oversee compliance with this Act, review any instances of delayed vote disclosure, and provide annual reports to the public.

Section 5: Severability
If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected.

Section 6: Effective Date
This Act shall take effect 60 days after its enactment.

Summary
The Transparency and Accountability Act mandates that all votes by Members of Congress be made public, prohibits secret or anonymous voting, and allows for limited, justified delays in cases of national security. This Act aims to ensure that voters can see how their representatives vote on all issues, holding them accountable to their constituents.

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